World's Largest Corn Maze 5k- Race Recap

Sunday the 20th I ran the World's Largest Corn Maze 5k for the first time. I had been checking the weather all week and saw it was going to be COLD! 35 degrees to be exact. Thankfully I bought some new long sleeve shirts to prepare myself. The event was help at Richardson's Corn maze, one of our favorite places to visit in fall, read about this year's visit here. I got to the race about 7:30 and proceeded to get my packet. It was very organized and I walked right up and got my bib and shirt. The shirts are actually really cool!

They had a very good wave system. I was in wave 11, which means I was expected to run a mile in the 11s. Our wave went at 8:46 and I was the first one from my wave to go.

Finish line

Looking at the corn

 

 I headed out and immediately realized this would be like any run I have ever done. The twists and turns, the course was well market but you never knew which direction you would be sent next. Lots of hill, challenging but good. The ground was also muddy since it rained the day before so I had to be careful, there was also downed corn and stalks in some places. I carried my new Nathan's handheld and never had to stop for water. I actually ran the entire 5k without walking, this was a first for me. Maybe all that running and talking helped because I was shocked. I just kept chugging along. My gps said the race was only 3.02 mile, but it clearly had some issues in a few areas. Official time:

I was pretty pleased with my time for it being a trail run in the mud. They had lots of food at the end to fuel up on. All in all great race and well organized. Will certainly do this one next year!

Pretty cool bib

I finished!

My outfit, I got a few complements! My socks were $2 from Hobby Lobby and were Halloween paint splatter. I made my skirt, it was super comfortable and stayed put.

 

 



Adventure Amongst the Corn- Our Fall Tradition

 

 

Saturday we took our annual trip to Richardson's Adventure Farm in Spring Grove, IL. We only live about 25 minutes away so it is quick and easy to get there. This year Bonnie and Carter were able to join us and it was Carter's first time at a corn maze.

Waiting for Bonnie to arrive to start our maze adventure

We headed in the big red barn to pay our admission and then explained to Carter what the corn maze was.

 

Justin and I have been going to the maze for many years. This year's theme was the Beatles 50th anniversary. They did a great job and the maze was really cool. 

Entrance to the corn maze, it's huge!

 Richardson's is not just a place to go to a corn maze, they have added so much cool stuff over the years! You can rent a campfire to sit with your family around, go on hayrides, zipline, Zorb, pet animals, see pig races, and more. You could seriously spend the whole day here. We spent about 2 1/2 hours there and felt we got our monies worth.

One of the campfires, it smelled so good!

Bonnie and Carter checking out the goats

 First stop was the animal area to see the goats, alpaca, and rabbits. I pet the goat of course but Carter did not seemed to interested in petting, he just wanted to observe them and look at the trucks.

Took this picture from one of the bridges

 They have 2 bridges and an observation deck so you can climb up and look at the vastness of the maze and property.

 

Looking out from the bridge, so much corn!

Bonnie punching her card at one of the stops

As you go through the maze, you get a card that you can punch as you find all 20 stations. They also have a quiz maze, farm mystery hunt, and a color maze.

Carter was such a good boy and seemed to love the adventure of the farm. He sat in the stroller for a bit and walked quite a bit of the maze. He did such a good job in the maze! 

Great picture of us at the farm! yes that is a Buccaneer jacket, don't ask. :) 

 It took us an hour and 20 minutes to make it the 2 mile route we took through the maze. After going 5 plus time (yes they change the maze each year) Justin has become a pro at reading the check post map. After completing the maze we headed over to watch the pig races. We got there just in time and saw two race.

Carter loved the piggies

They were so little and cute, eventually they will be big!

All the pigs had names and most were Beatles themed.

 Once the pig races ended we walked around to see what else there was to do. We took Carter over to the jumping pillows to see if he wanted to do it. It was great that they had one for big kids and one for little kids, he went to the 48 inches and under pillow.

Seemed a little unsure of the jumping pillow

Bonnie helping him figure it out

 After the pillow Carter went and played in the playground for a bit. Once he was done we headed back to the Silo to buy our traditional bag of kettle corn, they make some of the best kettle corn there! I also bought this cute scarecrow rice crispy pop and a corn maze patch.

German sausage holding our kettle corn

Cute scarecrow!

 

 

We bid farewell to the maze for this year, well Bonnie, Carter, and Justin did. I will be back to the maze Oct 20th to participate in the Run Through the Maze 5k, can't wait!

 

Have you been to a corn maze before? Do you have any fun fall traditions?

 



September Happenings!

 

September marks the beginning of my favorite season, fall. We already have so many things on the schedule for this month and it's only the 3rd! Here's some of our September happenings, feel free to share yours!

 

-. Going to the place in the picture above, Richardson's Adventure Farm for the World's Largest Corn Maze! It's a yearly tradition of ours, so excited to go with Bonnie, Adam, and Carter.

 

- We are finally going on our summer vacation to Wilderness Resort in the Wisconsin Dells. Very much looking forward to floating in a lazy river, going down some water slides, relaxing in the condo, going to the outlet :), and just spending time away.

 

- Neighborhood block party. We missed the last few years but we will try again this year and hopefully the weather will cooperate. We have some new faces on the street and it would be nice to meet some of them.

 

- Just joined our local running club so I am hoping to get away from the dreadmill and outside to meet some local runners and hopefully learn from them.

 

- Grayslake Fall Frolic 5k, looking to see if I can meet or beat my PR from the Autism race. Should be a fun, local run.

 

- Brewers 10k in Milwaukee, my first official 10k and I am both pumped and scared!! Justin is coming up for support and I am looking forward to running through Miller Park again!

 

-Spending an afternoon with mom, always a nice time can't wait for that!

 

Lot's going on in September so far and I am sure much more will be added to the list! How is your September shaping up?